Viorel Ursu

Viorel Ursu is director for advocacy and grant making at the Open Society Eurasia Program. He leads the Open Society Foundations’ advocacy efforts and supervises grant making in Eastern Europe, Turkey, and Central Asia region.

Ursu joined the Open Society European Policy Institute in 2003. As a senior policy analyst in Brussels he worked to ensure that human rights and democracy support are at the forefront of the EU enlargement policy, in relation with the Eastern neighboring countries and EU funding.

Before joining the Open Society Foundations, he lectured in international law and human rights at the State University of Moldova. At the same time he worked with the Soros Foundation–Moldova’s various programs, including civil society development, youth, and education.

Ursu holds a law degree from the State University of Moldova and an MA in European studies from the College of Europe, Warsaw. He speaks English, French, Russian, and Romanian.